Jaguars in third entering final day

By FROM NEWS RELEASE
Sept. 14, 2010 at 4:14 a.m.

James Price takes a shot at the 10th hole.

Making their inaugural appearance Monday, both the University of Houston-Victoria men's and women's golf teams find themselves in third place going into the final round of their respective Texas Lutheran University tournaments.

After grabbing a two-shot lead after the first round, the UHV men fell back slightly in posting a second round 294 to drop back eight shots behind leader Texas Lutheran in the John Bohmann Memorial. TLU, starting the second round two back of the Jaguars, posted a 285 for a 569 total and a three shot advantage over Mary Hardin-Baylor (287-285-572).

"With us posting that 282 we got everybody's attention," coach Brian Williamson said. "We had it going right up until the end and we kind of stumbled a little coming in."

With two players combining to shoot 5-under par, the UHV men quickly served notice they were out to win the tournament by grabbing a two-shot lead after the first round. The Jaguars posted a two-under 282, two shots better than host Texas Lutheran A, who came in at even-par 284.

Mary Hardin-Baylor was in third at 287..

James Price grabbed a share of the first-round individual lead with a 4-under 67, while Travis Chritzberg added a 1-under 70 to pace the Jaguars. Jon Moore added an even-par 70, while Austin Griffin posted a 3-over 74. Cory Anderson added a 75 for the Jaguars.

Price was unable to continue the hot hand as he posted a 74 in the second round and was in fourth place at 141. Chritzberg followed his 70 with a 75, while Moore also posted a 75 in the second round and Griffin a 74. Anderson shook off his opening-round 75 to post the best second-round score with an even-par 71.

The UHV women found themselves in the thick of the race as well and only eight shots out of the lead in third place in the TLU Lady Bulldogs Fall Invitational.

The Jaguars posted a 336 in their first competitive round, while McMurry took the lead at 328. Southwestern was in second at 331, followed by UHV with California-Santa Cruz in fourth at 339.

"The girls played extremely well considering the amount of time I've had to work with them," Williamson said. "I was well pleased with their finish being it was their first time out together."

UHV's Whitley Patterson holds the individual lead going into the final round after posting a 3-over 74. Patterson is two shots better than UCSC's Charlotte Gibson (76) and four up on McMurry's Monica Harris.

Following Patterson for the Jaguars, Morgan Desive added an 82, Lyndie Smith an 83, Larissa Loredo a 97 and Devon Dueser a 109.

"All-in-all I was very pleased with the play of both teams." Williamson said. "You always like to be in the lead, but I like where we're at right now."

Culberson in 27th place for TLU

St. Joseph graduate and TLU freshman Kerry Culberson shot a combined 150 and is currently in 27th place.

Final round play for both the men and women will be Tuesday. The men tee off at 8 a.m. and the women at 8:30 a.m.